Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPS): Invest in ULIP for availing dual benefits of insurance and investment. Select from the best ULIPs at PolicyBazaar.
What is ULIP?
Unit linked insurance plan(ULIP) is a market-linked product that aggregates the very best of investment and insurance. It is a plan which is linked to the capital market and offers flexibility to invest in equity or debt funds as per risk appetite. Such dual benefit backed by the flexibilities of ULIPs turn them attractive in terms of investment.
For the initial 10 years of the policy term, IRDA in 2010 capped the proposed annual charges of ULIPs at 2.25 percent. At present, several insurance firms have cut commissions and other charges, and as a result, some of the ULIPs launched in recent years are cheaper than mutual funds.
ULIP Calculator
Online insurance comparison portals and insurance company’s website provide a ULIP calculator for you to better understand the amount of cover and corpus you need. This ULIP calculator helps to calculate the future value of an investment. You can key in details like investment amount, investment frequency, the number of years you want to make an investment, percentage post-tax annual rate of return earned on investments, etc. in the ULIP calculator and get an idea of which investment makes sense for you.
Best ULIPs in India 2018
ULIP Plans
Entry Age
Minimum Premium
Premium Allocation Charge
Policy Admin Charge
No. of Free Switches in a Year
Aegon Life iMaximise Secure Plan
7 to 55 years
Rs. 24,000 to Rs. 36,000
Nil
Rs 100 per Month
4
Bajaj Allianz Future Gain
1 to 60 years
Rs. 25,000
0% to 1.5%
Rs. 33.33 per Month
Unlimited
PNB MetLife Smart Platinum
7 to 70 years
R.30,000 to Rs. 60,000
1.25% per Annum (Maximum)
Rs. 40 (Max)
4
MAX Life Fast Track Growth Fund
18 to 50 years
Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 1,00,000
2% (Single Premium)to 4% (Annual Premium)
Rs1,500 per Year
12
SBI Life Wealth Assure
8 to 65 years
Rs. 50,000
3% of Single Premium
Rs.45 per Month
2
ICICI Pru Wealth Builder II
0 to 69 years
Rs. 24,000 to Rs. 48,000
3% to 4%
Rs. 500 per Month
NA
LIC Market Plus-I Growth Fund
18 to 65 years
Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 30,000
3.3%
Rs 60 per Month (Max)
4
Tata AIG Life Invest Assure II – Balanced Fund
4 to 55 years
Rs. 75,000 to Rs. 1,20,000
5% of Annual Premium
0.25% of Annual Premium
12
SUD Life Dhan Suraksha Plus
8 to 50 years
Rs. 24,000
6% of Annual Premium
Rs. 6000 per Annum (Max)
1
HDFC Life Pro Growth Plus
14 to 65 years
Rs. 2500 to Rs. 10000
2.5% of Annual Premium
Rs. 500 per Month (Max)
Unlimited
Types of ULIP Plans Classification by Purpose
ULIPs are best classified on the basis of purpose they serve:
ULIP for Retirement
In this plan, you need to make the payment during your tenure with your employer, which is automatically collected in a corpus amount, which is paid in the form of annuities to a policyholder after retirement.
ULIPs for Wealth Collection
This plan primarily accumulates your wealth over a period of time. Such plans are recommended for people who are in the late twenties and early thirties and by investing in this plan; they get the flexibility to fund their any future financial goal.
ULIP for Children Education
As a parent, you want to ensure that no unforeseen event affects your child’s overall education in any condition. There are several ULIP plans that provide money in small chunks in the key events of your children’s life. This ensures that no unforeseen even hinders their life in any manner.
ULIPs for Health Benefits
In addition to some common benefits, ULIPS efficiently provide financial assistance to meet medical contingencies.
7 Reasons Why ULIPs are Good Choice
Being an investment-cum-insurance policy, ULIP is among the most productive options to choose for investment. In this plan, the sum of your money is invested across stock markets, which generates considerable returns and provides you with the coverage for any risk as long as the policy remains in force.
Following 7 benefits of ULIPs make them fall under investment options:
Transparent structure, features, and charges
Flexibility to switch between funds
In cover option
Different premium paying frequencies
Various fund options to suit both risk takers and averters
Rider options for additional coverage
Tax benefit u/s 80C, 80D and 10 (10D)
Type of ULIP Plans – Classification by Death Benefit
Unit linked insurance plans can also be categorised on different criteria or norms. For instance, ULIPs are categorised into two broad categories depending on the death benefit:
Type 1 ULIP Plans
In case of death of the policyholder, the nominee receives death benefit which is equal to higher of the sum assured or fund value by the insurance company.
The mortality charge in type 1 ULIP keeps on reducing every year as the sum at risk reduces. The sum at risk is the difference between the accumulated fund value and sum assured under the policy. In other words, it is the amount an insurance company pays from its own pocket in the event of the death of the policyholder.
Let’s understand this with the help of an example. Suppose, the insured took a ULIP plan with a sum assured of Rs. 50 lakh. He has paid the premium for 7 years and the fund value has now grown to Rs. 28 lakh. In the event of the death of the policyholder, the beneficiary will receive Rs. 50 lakh, the higher of sum assured (Rs. 50 lakh) or fund value (Rs. 28 lakh).
Type 2 ULIP Plans
When a policyholder dies, the death benefit received by the nominee in case of type 2 ULIP is equal to sum assured plus fund value. One thing to note is that premiums for type 2 plans are higher than those for type 1 ULIP plans. A Type 2 ULIP plan also considers mortality rates with every policy year because the risk of death increases with age.
As above, let us look at an example to understand the concept better. Taking the above scenario where the insured has taken a ULIP plan with a sum assured of Rs. 50 lakh. And the policyholder has paid the premium for 7 years, which has resulted in fund value now standing at Rs. 28 lakh. In the event of the death of the policyholder, the beneficiary or nominee will receive Rs. 78 lakh, i.e. sum assured (Rs. 50 lakh) plus fund value (Rs. 28 lakh).
ULIP Charges
ULIPs do have certain charges associated with them, which can be sub-divided into multiple categories. Following are the one you must know:
Premium Allocation Charges – The charges, namely premium allocation charges are imposed - beforehand on the premium paid by the investor. These are the initial expenses incurred by a company in issuing the policy, like medical expenses and underwriting cost.
Policy Administrative Charges - These charges are deducted regularly for the recovery of expenses borne by the insurance company for maintaining a life insurance policy.
Surrender Charges– These charges refer to the deduction for full or partial encashment of premature units subject to the policy documents. These charges are levied as a percentage of the fund value or as a percentage of the premium.
Mortality Charges – The expenses, namely mortality charges are borne by the insurer to provide a life cover to insured, which vary with the age and sum assured of the policy. These charges are deducted on a monthly basis.
Fund Management Charges – The aggregated sum through ULIP funds is invested in equity instruments and debt. The insurer bears these charges for fund management, which vary with both fund and plan. The amount is subject to deduction calculating the net asset value or NAV.
Fund Switching Charge – ULIP plans enable you to invest your hard-earned money in different fund options that further have multiple debts equity exposure as well as provide you with the option to switch between different funds for which your insurance company will charge the switching fee. Most of the policies provide few free switches every year.
Discontinuance Charges – On premature discontinuation of a plan within lock-in period, the insurer deducts a small fee. Since these charges are preset by IRDA, these are the same for almost all policies.
In ULIP, premiums you pay are invested in debt and equity instruments, chosen by you, after deducting allocation and other charges. The value of each fund is computed by dividing total value of the fund’s investment by the total number of units.
ULIP Checklist: Things you should Care Before Investing
ULIP is a complex financial product. It comes in a lot of variants, each with its unique set of features and benefits. Buying it can be a mind-boggling process. However, if you will follow these simple steps, the process of choosing a right ULIP can become hassle-free.
It is always good to have the know-how of the working of a ULIP. Do your homework well and read as much as you can about ULIPs before investing.
You should know charges levied on entry and exit of the policy.
Keep your focus on your investment goals rather than getting swayed by some luring feature of a ULIP. Identity a plan that best suits to your risk appetite and financial health. If you have a high-risk appetite, then you must opt for a high-risk high-return fund.
Carefully examine how the fund has performed in the past 2 to 3 years while the benchmarks remain indices like BSE or Nifty.
Compare ULIP products of different insurance companies in terms of premium payments, scheme performance, additional facilities and cost structure.
ULIPs vs Traditional Plans vs Mutual Funds
These three investment options can often be seen locking horns with each other. But who's the best among them - ULIPs, Traditional Plans or Mutual Funds? The answer primarily depends on three factors:
Risk appetite
Investment goals
Financial health
When putting the aforementioned financial products to comparison, one should keep in mibd, insurance is imperative as it is about protecting your loved ones from the unexpected circumstances; on the other hand, investment is a choice, made with the sole intention of multiplying your wealth.
Key Differences Between ULIP Plans , Traditional Plans & Mutual Funds:
Parameters
Low Cost ULIPs
Traditional Plans
Mutual Funds
Definition
A ULIP is insurance cum investment plan in which risk cover is promised, but return solely depends on the market performance
Traditional plan is insurance cum investment plan that promises both risk cover and returns to the investor
A mutual fund is a pure investment product that gives market linked returns. There's no risk cover
Investment
The money is invested in debt, equity and hybrid funds which can be chosen as per risk capacity
The money is invested only in debt instruments
The money is invested in equities, debts and other money market instruments
Liquidity
You can withdraw money but only after the lock in period (currently 5 years)
Traditional Plan locks in your funds. You can't withdraw money before maturity
No lock-in period. Cashing out your funds is easy
Loyalty benefits
Loyalty benefits are given on long term investment of ULIPs
Some traditional plans offer loyalty benefits to policyholders for continuing the policy for the full tenure
No loyalty or long term benefit is given
Risk factor
It is a market linked product so there is risk element
These plan cater to people having low risk appetite
Mutual funds are risky
Myths about Investing In ULIP Plans
A ULIP plan is a great product combining the benefits of insurance and investment in one single financial instrument. But, there exist many myths associated with ULIPs because of misinformation and lack of clarity in the minds of consumers. Common myths of a ULIP plan are:
Myth 1: ULIPs are costly due to multiple inherent charges
Reality: People with the question ‘What is ULIP?’ have been led to believe that a ULIP plan is an expensive investment product due to charges like those towards premium allocation, fund management among other. The reality is that ULIPs have changed significantly.. People may not be aware but the IRDAI in 2010 has brought down annual charges to 3% for the first 10 years of the holding period and 2.25% for more than 10 years of holding. This reduction excludes mortality and morbidity charges. The fund management charges (FMC) have also been capped at 1.35%. Capping of charges has been done to provide a reasonable value proposition to the customers. The charges were fixed at this rate because competing products such as mutual funds were charging an average cost similar to this. This has considerably brought down the cost of owing ULIPs and has made them affordable.
Myth 2: ULIPs are risky financial instruments
Reality: Another myth is that a ULIP plan is riskier investment product as it only invests in the equity market. This is absolutely not true. For anyone wanting to know what is ULIP offering, a ULIP plan gives the option of investing in debt, equity or a mixture of debt and equity as per the wishes of the policyholder. Depending on the type of risk one can take, different funds can be selected with different objectives. Aggressive funds which primarily invest in equity are apt for high risk-takers while conservative funds which are debt-oriented are more suited for risk-averse people. There is also the option of a balanced fund which is a mix of equity and debt. A ULIP plan also gives the option of switching between funds as per change in personal conditions, change in risk appetite, etc.
Myth 3: ULIPs do not allow investment of surplus funds
Reality: ULIPs do allow investment of surplus funds. Surplus funds can be added as per availability to a ULIP with a lower premium. Top-up premiums can be paid any time during the tenure of the existing ULIP policy and they enjoy the same tax benefits as regular premiums.
Myth 4: ULIPs allow continuation
Reality: People with the query ‘What is ULIP?’ have been confused and often misled into believing that ULIPs cannot be discontinued at all. Once can discontinue a ULIP plan after minimum 5 years of lock-in period without payment of any surrender charges.
Myth 5: Market volatility reduces life cover
Reality: There is also this confusion in the minds of consumers that the life cover under a ULIP decreases with market volatility. However, this is not true. The life cover remains unaffected with the rise and fall of stock markets. In case the insured dies during the policy term, ULIPs pay either the complete life cover or the fund value whichever is higher.
Myth 6: Health and accident cover is not provided in ULIPs
Reality: This again is completely untrue. A ULIP plan offers policyholders the twin benefits of insurance and investment. In addition, a ULIP plan has many optional rider options like other insurance products. Common riders are Accidental Death Benefit, Family Income Benefit, Hospital Cash Benefit, Waiver of Premium, etc. Additional cash requirements in case of emergencies can be taken care of through partial withdrawals. There may be some restrictions on clubbing two optional riders together but investors can always get the best ULIP plan with a suitable ULIP NAV for themselves.
Myth 7: ULIPs offer low returns
Reality: This again is a false notion prevalent among many people. The fact is that if money is invested judiciously in different funds with varying degree of exposure to equity and debt markets, investors stand a chance to lock in good returns upon maturity. The choice for funds, timely switching, redirection of funds or premiums, all ensure that one’s fund growth is healthy. Another thing to understand is that ULIPs are long term investment vehicles. With disciplined investing, they give attractive returns over the long term in addition to a life cover. All policyholders have to do is to keep a track of the ULIP NAV to get a policy that suits their needs. They can also opt for a different fund allocation that gives better returns after checking the ULIP NAV.
Insurance companies offer an array of funds out of which one can choose, based on their investment objectives, time horizon, and risk profile. Each fund has a different element of risk and consequently offers different returns.
Common types of funds available with their risk characteristics are given below:
Cash Funds: They are sometimes referred to as Money Market Funds. Cash funds come under the low-risk category and invest in cash, bank deposits and money market instruments that have the lower risk.
Debt Funds: Income, Fixed Interest and Bond Funds: These figure in the medium risk category and invest in debt instruments like government securities, corporate bonds and other low-risk fixed income instruments. While the returns are lower in comparison to equity, the risk is low as well. The returns from these funds are slightly higher than cash funds.
Balanced or Hybrid Funds: They combine equity investment with fixed interest instruments and are of medium risk in nature. These hybrid funds give adequate exposure to stock markets as well as debt instruments. The risk inherent in equity is counterbalanced by the safer investments in debt.
Equity Funds: These ULIP funds fall in the medium to the high-risk category as they primarily invest in company stocks with the objective of capital appreciation. Since these funds invest in the stock markets, the fund performance is in line with the highs and lows due to volatility in the stock market.
ULIP NAV, in everyday terminology, refers to the Net Asset Value (NAV) of each unit of the ULIP fund on a particular day. The insurance companies generally display the ULIP NAV of each fund on their websites under the relevant section.
Though ULIP NAV is now more understood on a per unit basis, in the strict financial sense, it refers to the net value of the assets of the firm. In other words, ULIP NAV equals the assets minus liabilities. The assets taken to calculate the ULIP NAV include the market value of investments held by the insurance company’s fund, the value of the fund’s current assets and any accrued income. The liabilities taken to calculate the ULIP NAV include fund management charges, current liabilities, provisions and service tax.
To arrive at the ULIP NAV of a single unit, the ULIP NAV of the whole fund is divided by the number of units in the fund existing on the valuation date. The resulting figure is the ULIP NAV per unit, which is what common terminology refers to when speaking of ULIP NAV.
As per a directive of IRDA in 2013, the valuation of equity shares is now calculated on the closing price of the company’s shares on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), which is also the primary exchange. In case a security is not listed or traded on the NSE, the closing price of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) or the secondary exchange has to be used for the purpose of computation of ULIP NAV.
Like mutual funds, ULIP policyholders are also allotted units. Each unit has a net asset value (NAV) that is determined and declared every day. It is the value on which net rate of returns on ULIPs are determined. The ULIP NAV varies from one ULIP to another as it is based on prevailing market conditions and the performance of the fund.
Most insurance companies offering ULIPs provide a range of debt, equity and a mixture of debt and equity funds to choose from to cater to all kinds of consumers. Equity funds offer higher returns and are appropriate for aggressive investors willing to take high risks. On the other hand, debt funds are less risky and consequently offer lower returns. Therefore, a ULIP plan serves all types of investors – from the risk-averse investor to an investor having a strong appetite for risk. Keeping a track of the historical ULIP NAV will help the person looking for the best ULIP plan to understand which one he or she should invest in.
People looking for an avenue for investment along with insurance will find ULIPs a good choice as one stands to gain from superior market returns in addition to having an insurance cover.
People with Medium to Long Term Investment Horizon
Unit Linked Insurance Plans are suitable for people who wish to invest in long-term investments. To get the best returns from ULIPs, one should invest in medium to lifelong investment horizons. In any case, they come with a compulsory lock-in period of 5 years. If one wants to create a corpus for his or her child’s higher education requirements or the child’s marriage expenditure, a unit linked insurance plan is a good choice due to its long-term outlook. Individuals can track the simple details such as the ULIP NAV, the total value of the fund, the equity-debt allocation to find the best ULIP plan for themselves.
Hands-On Investors
ULIP plans are most suited for individuals who like to track their investments closely. Since each insurance company provides the ULIP NAV for each of its unit linked insurance plans on its site, people can easily determine which the best ULIP plan for their needs is. Moreover, with the flexibility of switching between debt, equity and balanced funds with varying risk-return profiles, hands-on informed investors will find ULIPs the best investment plan as they can keep close tabs on their investment and make changes based on how the market is performing. The fact that these ULIP plans offer insurance cover also is an added bonus.
Investors across Different Life Stages
ULIP plans are ideal for all kinds of investors at different stages in life as there are ULIP plans available depending on individual requirements and situations.
The need for protection is low for single people who have just started their careers. Their need for wealth creation and accumulation however is high; therefore, they can meet such needs by choosing a ULIP plan with low death benefit and allocating in equity-focused investment funds. Keeping track of the ULIP NAV will further help them maximise returns by choosing the best ULIP plans for themselves.
Someone who is married but has no children has medium protection needs but has a high need for wealth creation. Such individuals can opt for a ULIP plan with higher death benefit and choose a growth or balanced investment fund for wealth creation.
For married individuals who are also parents, the need for protection is high, as is the need for asset creation to save for children. They can achieve this by choosing a ULIP plan with increased death benefit and choose riders for enhanced protection in addition to going for balanced funds for asset creation. Checking the ULIP NAV on a regular basis will help them optimise their fund allocation through the years.
People who are well settled in their jobs and have school going children have high protection as well as wealth creation needs. Their need for liquidity is also high to meet their child’s requirements. It is most advisable to go for a ULIP plan which allows partial withdrawals to meet such liquidity requirements.
The need for protection is in the medium range for middle-aged individuals whose children are ready to pursue higher education or plan to set up a business or plan to get married. They require lump sum money to fulfil such responsibilities and this can be achieved by ULIP plans allowing partial withdrawals.
People who are nearing retirement, whose children are independent, have low protection needs. They require safe accumulation of funds for post-retirement needs. Such individuals can opt for debt-oriented funds and lower the death benefit of their ULIP plan. These people should opt for the best ULIP plan for themselves that will give them regular returns without them having to worry about the ULIP NAV.
The best ULIP plan offers several advantages. Some of the important ones are explained in detail below:
Market Linked Returns: ULIP plans present an opportunity to earn market linked returns. A part of the premium paid in a ULIP plan in invested in funds which invest in different market instruments including debt and equity in varying proportions. The policyholder stands a chance to earn returns based on the market. Investors can use the data such as the ULIP NAV to keep a tab on returns and ensure they stay invested in the best ULIP plans.
Investment and Life Protection:Investing in ULIPs helps to inculcate the habit of saving and investing, both of which are essential for building long term wealth. ULIPs offer dual benefit of a life insurance cover as well as savings at market-linked returns. With the feeling of peace of having life protection, one can invest in a range of market funds to earn a high rate of return.
Flexibility: ULIPs give a lot of flexibility to the policyholder. One has the option to switch between different funds to match one’s changing needs. There is also a facility to partially withdraw from the fund and this is subject to special charges and conditions. One can even invest additional sums of money as top-up over regular premiums. The ULIP NAV is a smart tool to track the investments and make sure the investors stay invested in the best ULIP plan.
Tax Deductions: ULIPs allow tax is invested in a ULIP is deductible from one’s, reducing the money owed to the government by way of income tax.
Funds for Crucial Milestones in Life: Significant amount of funds are required at different stages in life. They may be required for one’s business, building a house, child’s marriage, etc. The facility to partially withdraw money gives access to much-needed funds at critical stages to address important needs. Investors should use the best ULIP plans to smartly plan their future money requirements.
Protecting the Child's Future: The ULIPs give the ability to invest in market linked funds to earn better market-type returns, and help create a corpus which can be used to secure the child’ future. The funds can be used towards a child’s education, his or her marriage, etc. Parents can easily keep a check on the ULIP NAV to make sure the returns offered are in keeping with future requirements.
Financial Security Post Retirement: Equities tend to do well over the long term. Therefore, ULIPs are a good choice to add value to one’s retirement portfolio. To have sufficient funds post retirement, one should invest in equity oriented funds in their twenties and early thirties. With age, one can gradually shift investments to more conservative debt funds.
ULIPs combine the benefits of insurance and investment in one financial instrument. In any case, they are better than insurance or investment alone. With the protection of a life insurance cover, they also provide the option to earn market linked returns to take care of important goals in life.
They Help Avoid the Everyday Hassle of Managing Stocks
One can invest in equity based market funds which offer a higher rate of return as compared to debt funds. In addition to higher returns, one does not have to worry about monitoring the stocks every day. The insurance company and its fund managers take care of that. They also bring to the table, expertise in fund management. Policyholders can also easily keep a tab on their portfolio with simple tools such as the ULIP NAV.
Multiple Fund Options to Choose From
ULIPs prove multiple fund options at ones disposal. One can choose the type of fund where the premiums will be invested. These can be fully debt or equity or a combination of the two in varying ratios. Looking the historical returns over the years as well as the ULIP NAV will make it easier to understand which the best ULIP plans are. Depending on one’s risk taking ability, changing life and financial situation, one may choose to switch the fund to best adjust to the new scenario. Equity focused funds are apt for people with higher risk appetite while debt focused funds are more suitable for risk-averse people who want guaranteed returns.
Transparency
One of the plus points of a ULIP plan is that it is an extremely transparent financial product. Unlike traditional plans where no information is shared with the policyholder, one is provided information about all the charges levied. From the easy to understand ULIP NAV to the historical returns, the numbers help pick the best ULIP plans easily. In addition, one clearly knows where the current account stands. ULIPs.
Liquidity
ULIPs are a fairly liquid investment product. They offer partial withdrawal of money to meet unpredictable events and emergencies. Also, the ULIP NAV of each fund is generally displayed on the website of the insurance company. Checking the ULIP NAV numbers will help to easily align the investment and insurance cover with the overall needs.
Low Surrender Charges
Surrender charges are charges that one has to pay in case one is surrendering a policy. If one finds oneself in a situation where one is stuck with a plan that is no more suitable, one can bear the surrender charges and rid oneself of such a policy. The surrender charges are unbelievably high in case of traditional plans leaving one with only a small portion of money invested post exit. However, they are reasonable in the case of ULIPs.
One should first decide the insurance objectives and then select a ULIP plan that fulfils them. If one is young, current as well as future family requirements need to be considered because the insurance cover should be adequate if something happens to the insured. Family planning, i.e. the number of children one plans to have is an important consideration. It is imperative to understand that ULIP is a long-term investment product. Therefore, one should be clear about the investment and insurance objectives when putting money in a unit linked insurance plan to get the maximum benefit from the investment.
Decide Investment Goals
Investment goals are extremely important. One should spend sufficient time and think before in deciding these goals. This exercise, if done well, makes the process of choosing ULIPs easy. Investment goals may vary from having a corpus for the higher education requirements of the children after some years to having sizeable funds for the child’s marriage. They may also include having the requisite amount of money for post-retirement needs. Utmost importance should be given to one’s investment goals. Once these goals have been decided, one can look for ULIPs with their benefits which fulfil the goals adequately.
Evaluate Risk Profile and Financial Stability
It is important to appraise one’s own your risk profile and financial stability before choosing a ULIP plan. Younger people who typically have higher risk appetite can go in for plans which are more equity focussed to the extent of 100% equity allocation. Those people for whom financial stability is of prime importance will do well with a plan that primarily invests in debt instruments which provide stability albeit with limited returns.
Understand Different Charges Levied
While choosing a ULIP plan from the best ULIP plans available, understand the charges well. These include initial charges, premium allocation fee, fund management fee, surrender charges, mortality charges, and administration and service charges. Proper information and knowledge about charges helps to filter and choose the right ULIP plan.
Compare ULIPs
Every ULIP has its own set of features and benefits. A thorough comparison is must to choose one that is best for one’s individual requirements. The comparison can be done in the traditional offline way or online using one of the many online insurance comparison portals. The websites rank and compare plans of different insurance companies on parameters such as sum assured value, policy term, different charges and bring to the fore, the many differences in ULIP plans.
Be Well-Versed with the Features and Benefits of ULIP Plans
Every ULIP plan is different. Each plan has distinct features and benefits. Having a proper understanding of the pros and cons of each plan makes the decision to choose a unit linked insurance plan easy. One is able to find a better fit based on personal requirements if the characteristics are understood well.
Check the Performance of the Plan
Finding out the performance of a ULIP plan under consideration is a good idea. One can refer to the performance of last three to four years. It gives a fair idea about returns that one can expect from the plan. The returns should also be compared to benchmark indices like the Nifty of the NSE and the Sensex of the BSE.
Aviva i-Growth: This unit linked, non-participating savings oriented life insurance plan offers a choice of three investment fund options and 3 policy terms. The total charge on the policy can be as low as 1% and the insured has the option to redirect premiums to different funds up to two times in a policy year.
Aviva Live Smart Plan: It is a non-traditional, unit linked endowment plan offering a choice of 7 fund options – Growth Fund, Enhancer Fund, Bond Fund, PSU Fund, Infrastructure Fund, Protector Fund and Balanced Fund which cater to every category of investor. The plan allows four partial withdrawals after completing 5 years of policy.
Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited
Bajaj Allianz Principal Gain: This is an individual, unit-linked non-participating endowment plan that offers the option of limited as well as a regular premium payment. Additionally, Bajaj Allianz Principal Gain plan offers guaranteed loyalty additions at maturity and allows you to receive maturity benefit in instalments via the settlement option.
Bajaj Allianz Fortune Gain: This non-participating, individual, single premium unit linked endowment plan offers 99.5% premium allocation for a single premium of Rs. 10 lakh and above. The systematic switching option helps manage investments better. It allows loyalty additions of 3% of the single premium depending on the single premium amount and chosen policy term.
Bajaj Allianz Future Gain: It is a unit linked endowment plan that provides maximum premium allocation. There is a choice of two investment portfolio strategies, viz. the Investor Selectable Portfolio Strategy and Wheel of Life Portfolio Strategy. The plan offers seven funds to choose from for the investor.
DHFL Pramerica Life Insurance Company Limited
DHFL Pramerica Smart Wealth Plus: This non-participating unit linked insurance plan rewards policyholders with Persistency Units for continuing their policy. These are equivalent to 1% of the average fund value. The minimum age to avail the policy is 8 years and the maximum age at the time of entry is 55 years. 75 years is the maximum age at maturity.
Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance
Edelweiss Tokio Wealth Accumulation: It is a non-participating unit linked insurance plan offering customised solutions to meet the wealth accumulation requirements of policyholders. It has a simple charge structure and offers policyholders a choice of multiple fund options to grow their investments. The plan also provides easy access to funds to the policyholders by way of loans and partial withdrawals.
Edelweiss Tokio Wealth Enhancement Ace: This non-participating unit linked life insurance plan comes with low allocation charges and flexible payment options. In case of death, the nominee of the policyholder receives the higher of the fund value or sum assured amount or 105% of the total premiums paid.
Exide Life Insurance Company Limited
Exide Life Prospering Life Plus: This is a unit linked life insurance plan can be taken for 10, 15 or 20 years. After 5 years of the policy being active, one can make partial withdrawals to address any liquidity requirements that may arise. This policy can be surrendered any time before maturity, even within the initial 5 year lock-in period.
Exide Life Smart Future Insurance Plan: This unit linked plan offers a choice of six different funds to invest. The policy tenure can range from 15 years to 30 years. It offers two premium payment choices – limited paying term or regular paying term. There is a limit on the minimum premium paid but is no upper limit. Premiums can be paid at monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annual intervals.
Future Generali India Life Insurance Company Limited
Future Generali Pramukh Nivesh: This is a single premium unit linked insurance plan i.e. it is available with a one-time lump sum premium payment option only. With an option of six different funds, one can choose to invest in a fund that matched one’s risk appetite. While the minimum premium amount stands at Rs. 50,000, there is no limit on the maximum premium.
HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company
HDFC Life Click2Invest ULIP: The highlight of this online unit linked insurance plan is that it comes with zero policy allocation and zero policy administration charges. It gives a choice of as high as eight fund options to invest money in as per one’s risk taking capability. The plan allows four free switches every year. Partial withdrawals are also allowed after 5 years of taking the policy.
IndiaFirst Life Insurance
IndiaFirst Smart Save Plan: It is a unit-linked insurance plan which offers a choice of five investment fund options. The plan allows switching to the extent of 24 free switches every year (2 free per month) with a minimum amount of Rs. 5,000. Single, limited and regular payment options are available while payment modes range from single, yearly and half-yearly.
Kotak Mahindra Old Mutual Life Insurance Limited
Kotak Ace Investment Plan: This unit-linked plan is investment oriented and offers a choice of seven distinct fund options. The frequency of premium can be paid monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annual. There is a choice of five policy terms – 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years. Anyone from 0 to 60 years can avail this plan. However, the policyholder should be of age between 18 and 75 years.
Kotak Wealth Insurance: This unit linked insurance plan provides you with the alternative to use surplus funds in the form of top-up premiums, thereby providing higher additional payout at death or maturity. There is a choice of 5 policy terms – 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years. While the policyholder should be between 18 years and 65 years of age, the age of the life insured can be anywhere from 0 years to 65 years. Partial withdrawals are allowed after completing 5 policy years.
Max Life insurance Company Limited
Max Life Fast Track Super Plan: This non-participating unit linked endowment plan offers 5 funds to investors with ranging risk appetites. The option of Systematic Fund Transfer and Dynamic Fund Allocation mechanisms help protect investments against market volatility. It gives flexibility to customers in choosing premium payment term and the policy term.
PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited
PNB MetLife Dhan Samriddhi: This plan offers a choice of choose from 6 fund options and allows 4 free switches. Partial withdrawals are allowed to the extent of 12 free withdrawals post which each withdrawal is charged Rs. 250. Funds can be withdrawn and policy surrendered anytime after completion of 5 years.
PNB MetLife Easy Super: It is a non-participating unit linked endowment plan offering sum assured to the extent of 10 times the chosen annualised premium amount. This plan is available for a period of 15-20 years and the premium-paying terms require customers to pay policy premiums for the entire length of the policy.
PNB MetLife Smart One: This is a non-participating unit linked endowment plan is available for a period of 10-20 years, subject to the policyholder’s maximum maturity age. Premiums are to be paid once and range from a minimum of Rs. 18,000 to a maximum of Rs. 5 lakh. The sum assured amount is 5 times the single premium paid during the first policy year plus 1.25 times the single premium paid for the remaining policy years.
PNB MetLife Smart Platinum: The unit linked insurance plan offers customers six different fund options to choose from. Premium can either be paid monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly. The minimum premium amount is Rs. 30,000 under the annual premium payment mode while it is Rs. 60,000 per year for all other payment modes.
Reliance Life Insurance Company Limited
Reliance Classic Plan II: This is a non-participating unit linked endowment plan with minimum annualised premium for single pay of Rs. 75,000 and Rs. 15,000 under regular pay. The minimum and maximum age at entry is 7 years and 60 years respectively. The minimum and maximum age at maturity is 22 years and 75 years.
Reliance Pay Five Plan:Every major component of this non-participating unit linked endowment plan has something to do with the number ‘5’. This plan offers a choice of 5 investment funds. One can start building a sizeable corpus with payment of just 5 yearly premiums, are also avail tax benefits. The premium paying term is 5 years and one can opt for partial withdrawals after the completion of 5 years of policy or after attaining 18 years of age, whichever is later.
At PolicyBazaar, we aim towards providing profound assistance to investors regarding all ULIP plans, which will come handy when finding a most suitable ULIP. Life insurance companies have leveraged the power of the Internet and have unveiled ULIPs that can be easily bought on a click of the mouse. Online ULIPs are not only cost-efficient instruments but they also provide insurance cover during the policy term. Our intelligent system has inbuilt ULIP calculator at PolicyBazaar, which would help you in computing returns on multiple ULIP plans, thus, easing the comparison process of ULIP plans in India. Today is the time to build the foundation of a sound future. So capitalize this opportunity and start comparing ULIP plans at PolicyBazaar.
Here is the difference between the two investment options:
SIP
SIP stands for a systematic investment plan that enables an investor to invest a stipulated amount of money in his/her preferred mutual funds at a pre-stipulated interval of time. The investment periodicity can vary from monthly to quarterly or annual basis. In simple words, a systematic investment plan is a planned approach that helps an investor to accrue a large corpus over a period of time.
ULIP
It is a unique insurance plan, as it comes with double benefits. It is a perfect blend of investment and insurance in a single plan. A ULIP offers the investor to enjoy insurance benefits along with the opportunity to invest in a wide range of investment options of his choice such as bonds and stocks. By this means, the investor enjoys market-linked returns and his/ her insurance needs are also taken care of at the same time.
What’s ULIP component in life insurance plans?
Ans:
A Unit-Linked Insurance Plan is a product offered by various insurance providers. Contrary to pure insurance plans, ULIPs offer best of both worlds by offering investment and insurance benefit under a single umbrella.
A share of the premium is paid for meeting mortality charges that provide life cover. The remaining share is invested in policyholder's preferred funds. Invested funds earn market linked returns.
A ULIP policyholder can get top-notch facilities like top-up, switching between different funds as long as the policy is active, reduction or increment in the protection level, the option of surrendering, add-on riders to upgrade insurance coverage, better returns, and applicable tax benefits.
Types of ULIP
Based on the death benefit, ULIPs can be categorized into 2 types, i.e. Type I and Type II.
Under Type I ULIP, the plan comes with the higher of sum assured and fund value. Under Type-II ULIP, the plan offers assured sum and fund value as the death benefit, in case the insured passes away.
ULIPs vary on the basis of investor’s investment objective, his/her risk appetite, his/her investment horizon etc. Some ULIPs ensure investment safety by investing a large share of the invested money in debt component while other ULIPs invest specifically in equity.
What is assured sum in a ULIP?
Ans:
The amount an insurer agrees to pay to the insured’s nominee in case he/she passes away is known as the assured sum.
What is the fund value?
Ans:
In a unit-linked insurance plan, the value of the insured’s outstanding investment after deducting all the fees/ charges is known as fund value.
The insurance premium for ULIPs is bound to attract additional charges. As a part of the premium that you pay towards your ULIP is deducted to meet charges. While some charges like premium allocation charge are deducted upfront as a percentage of the premium, other charges like fund management charge, mortality charge and administration charge are deducted after your money has been invested and from the invested corpus. These charges are deducted by canceling units at the prevailing net asset value.
Is a ULIP taxable at maturity?
Ans:
The money received as the maturity benefit of a ULIP is tax-exempted as per section 10 D of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
For insurance plans issued on/ after April 1, 2012, the exemption is permitted specifically for the plans where the payable premium for each year is up to 10 percent of the assured sum.
For policies issued during April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2012 the exemption is permitted only for the plans wherein the payable premium per annum is up to 20 percent of the assured sum. Therefore, if the conditions are not met, the amount received as maturity benefit will be taxable.
Is surrender value of ULIP taxable?
Ans:
The insurance premium for ULIPs is bound to attract additional charges. Some charges like premium allocation charges are deducted upfront at the rate of predefined percentage. Additionally, there are some charges, such as mortality charges, fund management charges, administration charges etc. deducted after the amount is invested.
The charges are deducted by canceling units at the current net asset value.
Is any tax levied on the surrender value of ULIPs?
Ans:
Surrendering the plan mid-way has its own drawbacks. Considering the drawbacks, the latest ULIP guidelines were issued in the year 2010. Apart from other changes, the lock-in period was enhanced from 3 years to 5 years.
Exiting a ULIP early when the lock-in period of 5 years is in effect means the policyholder has to face losses in the form of additional charges/taxes.
Is interest on ULIP taxable?
Ans:
No, the interest earned on ULIPs is tax-free.
What is full form of ULIP?
Ans:
ULIP stands for Unit Linked Insurance Plan.
What happens if I can’t continue ULIPs after 5 years?
Ans:
If a policyholder stops paying premium after 5 years, then the policy will be terminated on an immediate basis and accumulated policy fund amount till the discontinuation date shall be paid to the policyholder. No surrender charges are for policies that are more than 5 years old.
How online insurance has changed the scenario of industry?
Ans:
Internet has completely revolutionized the way in which insurance is sold and bought. In online sector, agent is not involved and therefore, insurance company saves commission and other operating costs which are involved in offline product. Due to this saving, premiums are cheaper and you need to pay less to buy an insurance product online. In case of endowment and term plans, discount rates on premium can vary anywhere between 2-5%. Also, charges are low in online field. When you decide to buy ULIPS online, you make a huge saving as no charges are incurred for premium allocation, policy administration and discontinuance, except fund management charges.
Moreover, claim settlement ratio in online insurance sector is also overwhelming. The past years reports have showed that claim ratio has reached over 90% in the online insurance sector.
What if I select a wrong insurance policy?
Ans:
Every insurance policy offers 15 days free-look period to the policyholder after receiving policy documents. During this period, if he/she is not satisfied with the policy, then the policy can be returned back to the respective company, who is bound to refund premium amount that has been paid, subject to the deductions like stamp duty that has been paid on the policy, premium for the number of days coverage has been given. In case of ULIP, net asset value (NAV) as on the date of returning the policy after deducting all expenses is paid to the policyholder.
If you discontinue after free-look period, these deductions would be high. So make sure you take prompt decision regarding insurance policy within free-look period to avoid unnecessary deduction.
Is ULIP a risky investment option?
Ans:
No matter how exciting it might seem to invest in ULIPs, it is important to understand that by opting for this investment plan, you run the risk of exposing your money to the uncertainties of the market. ULIPs offer both insurance coverage and investment option. But you should also keep this in mind that the vagaries of the market can affect even the best performing investment plan. So, understand your risk appetite and then make a choice accordingly.
The best part of having an investment plan is that you can switch from one fund to another, which you find less risky. It means, it has a very open structure. The other innovative aspect of the ULIPs is the 'top up facility', which allows you to make an additional investment apart from the annual premium of the policy. This feature is useful when you have surplus funds and you want to invest in the market.
ULIP is directly proportionate to risk. It means, higher risk more returns and vice versa.
If you invest for a longer duration then you will yield high returns. The past performance of the fund gives you a fair idea about the functioning of a plan.
ULIPs also come with the facility that allows you to skip premiums if you have regularly paid premiums for the first three years. Also, ULIPs disclose their portfolios. This will help you in getting an idea of how your money is being invested in the market. Since ULIPs are NAV based, therefore, it is feasible to withdraw some portion of investment before the maturity, provided lock-in period is over. You can make this investment option work in your favor by using it judiciously.
ULIPs vs Mutual funds- Which is the better investment option?
Ans:
Though both ULIPs and Mutual Funds are exposed to market risks, these products differ on various aspects like liquidity, charges (mortality charges, fund management charges and policy administration charges) etc. Whether one should go for mutual fund or ULIP, this has always been a matter of debatable and financial advisors have held different opinions. So, the best way to deal with this dilemma is to make a proper comparison between both investment instruments on the basis of different parameters.
Parameters
ULIPS
Mutual Funds
Purpose
Used for both investment and insurance purpose
Primarily for investment purpose. No insurance benefit
Lock in period
Lock in period is 5 years. If the policy is withdrawn in first year, surrender charge is 20% of the premium or Rs 3000, whichever is low. This gets reduced by every year and becomes nil after 5 years
There is no entry load and after 1 year, there is no exit load either. You can enter and exit anytime depending on market conditions.
Loyalty benefits
Loyalty benefit comes if you stay invested for a longer time
No loyalty or long term benefit
Track record
It is a new product in the market
An established product where one can stay invested for 10 year and even 20 year for the same funds.
Risk exposure
Less risky
Risky
Ranking
Independent ranking as it is not rated right now
Several third party agencies rank mutual funds on the basis of various parameters
Which one to invest in?
ULIPs may not be an ideal choice if you are a short term investor because commission rates may gradually decrease with the time. Also, exiting the policy in a short term may yield very low returns as a large chunk of your investment would go in meeting exit charges. If you are a short term investor who is looking at wealth creation, mutual fund would be a preferred option.
What is a low cost ULIP? Why should I invest?
Ans:
In the recent years, IRDAI had capped charges (excluding mortality) at 3% for ULIP policies with tenure of up to 10 years and 2.25% for those policies with term of over 10 years. As a result, commission rate and surcharge values have come down. Due to this, insurance companies have launched ULIPs at a low cost.
These investment-cum-insurance plans have become a low cost investment option. Indeed, it is a right time to break the historical aversion to ULIPs and start investing in them. Unlike mutual funds, maturity proceedings in ULIPs are tax free under the Section 10(10d).
What are the common terms which are associated with ULIPs?
Ans:
Below are the terms which are usually associated with ULIPs-
Unit – A single part of a Unit Linked Fund is called as a Unit. Now what is this Unit Linked Fund? The insurance provider makes a pool of funds out of the premiums of all the policyholders (left after deduction of charges and deduction of the portion to be invested for life cover). This pool is meant to be invested in assets such as debt and equity instrument and is called as Unit Linked Fund.
Funds – Funds are various financial instruments in which an investment is made. Debt, equity, cash and hybrids are the common type of funds in ULIPs. In the case of ULIPs, switching between funds is an investor’s decision.
NAV – Net Asset Value. It’s the value of each unit of the fund. NAV is very dynamic and changes on a daily basis.
Top Up – The additional premium that can be paid on the plan over and above the regular premium is the Top Up. But why would anyone want to pay an additional premium? Well, because of 2 reasons –
Getting more units without having to pay the high allocation charges (40% for the regular premium, 1-2% for the top-up)
Additional life cover
Top-up can’t be made in the first year and the last five years of the policy term. Top Up is a personal choice and the investor is not liable to pay it on a regular basis.
What are the common features of ULIPs?
Ans:
ULIP is loaded with following features-
Allows for switching between funds
Additional riders and benefits
Flexibility to choose premium and life cover
Tax benefits
Top-ups
Loyalty additions at the maturity
What are the different types of ULIPs?
Ans:
ULIPs can be broadly classified under two heads-
Type I ULIP - In case the insured dies, the nominees are paid either the sum assured or the fund value, whichever is higher.
Type II ULIP - In case the insured dies, the nominees are paid a total of sum assured and the fund value.
Obviously, Type II ULIP is preferred over Type I ULIP.
ULIP can also be classified on the basis of the purpose it serves –
Wealth ULIPs - The focus is on multiplying wealth. In such plans, investment is made keeping in mind a longer frame of time to maximize returns from the investments.
Child ULIPs - Insurance cum investment plans that serve 2 purposes, to financially secure your child’s future and to finance the turning points in his life such as higher education and marriage.
Pension ULIPs - The objective is to make sure that when you retire and run out of regular earnings, you should have something to thrive on. This ULIP pays the pensioner regular annuities after he retires.
How is ULIP different from traditional plans?
Ans:
ULIP
Traditional Plans
Funds
The investment is made into a combination of debt and equity instruments
Investment is made into debt instruments only
Risk Factor
High risk, high returns products
Risk free but at the same time return free
Transparency
Investor can track his investment portfolio to
No tracking of portfolio allowed
Payback Potential
Risk cover is assured, however the returns solely depends on the market performance
Both risk covers and returns are assured. However, returns are not substantial
Management
Managed by the investor himself
Managed by the insurance company
Liquidity
The money can be withdrawn from your fund but only after the lock in period
Traditional Plan involves locking in your funds. Funds can’t be touched before death or maturity
Cost and Charges
Being a complex financial instrument, it involves hefty charges
Charges involved are nominal and not transparent
How to make money through ULIPs?
Ans:
The secret lies in the art of asset allocation that is choosing and switching between funds. All you have to learn is manage and shift funds strategically. Patience is the virtue you need to have, to be able to make money through ULIPs. Letting the policy live for longer period of time maximize your chances of earning high returns from the investments
After a long while, got the insurance policy which i needed. The ulip insurance plan from bajaj life insurance. The policy coverage is high and claims are easy to sanctioned. Service provided by you is superb, the updates of the policy is regularly mailed to me at my email address.
Nakul Nainital July 15, 2016
Good
I have ulip plan from bajaj allainz life insurance company limited. The policy is great and it works for me and give me full satisfaction. Policy coverage and claims are good. Claiming is very easy because the service of the staff of the company is awesome.
Ankit Delhi February 06, 2016
"Average"
I have life insurance with bajaj. The policy i have is an average one. Low premiums but the paybacks are also less. The policy coverage and claims are ~60-70%. The services provided is slow. Kaam chalau...
Plan Name: Future Gain
Agent Code: BPW01312
Hari Lucknow December 20, 2015
First time invested on bajaj allianz ulip plans
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